Polling for the 28-Koridang Assembly Constituency by-election passed off peacefully on Thursday, recording a voter turnout of 82.21 per cent amid heavy security deployment.
Polling was held across 30 polling stations from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., with no untoward incidents reported. Over 22,300 voters exercised their franchise to decide the fate of six candidates in the fray— Maj (Retd.) Toshikaba (Ind), Imtiwapang Kichu (Ind), T. Chalukumba Ao (Cong), Daochier I. Imchen (BJP), Imchatoba Imchen (Ind) and I. Abenjang (NPP).
Except for a minor EVM malfunction at a polling station in Chungtia village, which briefly delayed voting before the machine was replaced, polling proceeded smoothly in the rest of the constituency. Voters were seen queuing at polling stations to cast their votes, while strict checking of voter identity was carried out to ensure free and fair polling.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner & District Election Officer Ajit Kumar Verma and Senior Superintendent of Police Vesupra Kezo, at a media briefing informed that the by-election witnessed one of the highest security deployments, with four companies of police personnel along with central security forces deployed to ensure peaceful polling.
On apprehensions of post-poll violence, the Senior SP said such possibilities could not be ruled out.
He also informed that eight persons, all women, were detained for possessing hundreds of voter slips belonging to others.
The DC said strict checking of voter ID cards was carried out at several polling stations to ensure free and fair elections.
Both officials expressed gratitude to all stakeholders, including civil society organisations, church leaders, village councils, police personnel and polling staff for their cooperation in ensuring peaceful conduct of the election.
Polling personnel from all polling stations later reported back to the DC & DEO office, Mokokchung after completion of polling.
NPP alleges voter suppression at Alichen PS; demands re-poll
DIMAPUR, APR 9 (NPN): The National People’s Party (NPP) has filed a formal complaint with the Election Commission of India, demanding a re-poll in Alichen polling stations under the 28 Koridang Assembly Constituency, alleging systematic voter suppression and administrative interference during the April 9 by-election.
In a representation to the Chief Election Commissioner, NPP national secretary Saidul Khan claimed that polling in Alichen was “vitiated” by intimidation, administrative disruption, and hindrance to the voting process.
The party presented statistical evidence highlighting a stark anomaly: Alichen recorded an exceptionally low turnout of 39.9%, with only 1,323 votes cast out of 3,310 registered electors, resulting in 1,987 uncast votes representing approximately 49% of the constituency’s total uncast votes. NPP termed this a “highly localized and disproportionate suppression.”
Comparatively, other polling stations showed significantly higher engagement—Mangmetong recorded 97-99% turnout, Longkhum 90-95%, Chungtia 80-90%, and Khensa 73-91%, underscoring that Alichen’s poor performance was anomalous.
Booth-level data revealed even more concerning figures. Alichen Polling Station II registered only 15% turnout with 114 votes cast from 745 electors, while Polling Station IV recorded 23% turnout with 147 votes from 641 electors. The NPP alleged these figures indicate systematic voter intimidation and obstruction.
The party further alleged that deployment of IRB personnel fostered an intimidating atmosphere and that the ECI observer and district administration halted polling for nearly an hour, conducting extensive Aadhaar and voter ID verification that disrupted voter flow. NPP claimed the interruption disproportionately discouraged participation among rural voters, women, and elderly citizens, with no compensatory measures such as extended polling hours implemented.
The NPP contended that this alleged suppression could have materially influenced election results and therefore demanded the ECI annul polling in Alichen and conduct a re-poll with Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) deployment.
The party also requested inquiries into the conduct of security personnel, the ECI observer, and district administration, seeking preservation and examination of videography, presiding officer diaries, and poll records.
Invoking Article 324 of the Constitution guaranteeing electoral integrity, NPP asserted that the concentrated pattern of uncast votes in Alichen raises fundamental concerns about the credibility of the electoral process.